Trump Claims Tariff Threat Prevented India-Pakistan Nuclear War
Former US President Donald Trump has asserted he prevented a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan by threatening both nations with 350% tariffs. He claims Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called him to confirm “we’re not going to go to war.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump claims he threatened 350% tariffs on both countries to prevent conflict
- Says he received calls from both PM Modi and PM Sharif thanking him
- India has consistently denied any third-party mediation in the May tensions
The Tariff Ultimatum
Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump detailed his approach: “I told the two nuclear-armed neighbours they ‘can go at it, but I’m putting a 350 per cent tariff on each country. No more trade with the United States’.”
He claimed both countries protested, but he remained firm: “I’m not going to have you guys shooting nuclear weapons at each other, killing millions of people and having the nuclear dust floating over Los Angeles.”
Alleged Phone Calls from Leaders
Trump stated that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called to thank him “for saving millions of lives” in front of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
He further claimed: “I got a call from Prime Minister Modi saying, ‘we’re done’. I said, ‘you’re done with what?’ Modi replied: ‘We’re not going to go to war’.” Trump said he then responded: “Let’s make a deal.”
India’s Consistent Denial
Despite Trump repeating this claim over 60 times since May, India has consistently denied any third-party intervention. The government maintains that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached on May 10 through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of both militaries.
The tensions followed India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
